Fishing rod



R. H. BEYER FISHING ROD April 29, 1952 Filed Feb. 23, 1946 I N V EN TOR. ,QA YMa/vo /7. Bfr/EE.

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Patented Apr. 29, 1952 FISHING ROD Raymond H. Beyer, South Bend, Ind.; assigner toV South Bend Bait Company, South Bend, Ind...

a corporation of Indiana Application February 23, 194s, serial No. 649,6@k

21 claims. (01.43-22) The invention relates to improvements in fishing rods.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a fishing rod having a unit separable therefrom and constituting a hand grip and a reel seat, wherein a single element serves both to connect said unit to said rod and to anchor a fishing reel upon a reel seat.

A further object is to provide a fishing rod having a unit separably attached thereto and constituting a hand grip and a reel seat, wherein said rod cooperates with said reel seat to anchor a fishing reel on said reel seat.

A further object is to provide a shng rod having an adjustable handle unit including a reel seat, wherein said rod may project in operative relation to said reel seat to anchor a reel base on f said reel seat.

Other objects will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of the fishing rod with a fishing reel mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 .is a longitudinal sectional view of the shing rod taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on -line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the engagement of the extension portion of the rod with the .base plate of the reel to lock the latter upon the reel seat.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I designates the flexible rod portion, I2 the handle, I4 the reel seat, and I6 a front hand grip of a fishing rod assembly. The flex ible rod portion I0 may be of any conventional type, such as a solid steelrod as shown, a tubular steel rod, or a split bamboo rod. 'I'he rod is provided With the usual line guides (not shown) positioned at its tip and spaced along its length. The specific bar type steel rod illustrated has a tapered sleeve I8 encircling the same in spaced relation to its end and," providing a shoulder 26 at itsrear end. An extension portion or fitting 22 is mounted on the rear end of rod I6, being provided with a longitudinal bore within which the rod I0 is anchored or secured. The extension 22 has a tapered front end portion 24 which fits in a tapered socket in the sleeve I8. An annular rib 26 projects from the large diameter end of said tapered portion. A longitudinal groove 28 is formed in the rear end portion of extension 22. The rear end of the extension 22 is congured, being provided with an end face 343 Slightly inclined with respect to a-.transverse plane, said face 30 extending for' the major portion of the transverse dimension of said extension. At its lower rear end portion the extension 22 has a tapered or inclined face 32 extending at a slight angle relative to the axis of said extension. Extension 22 is preferably of circular cross-section as illustrated, but it may have any cross-sectional shape found suitable. Where said cross-- section is non-circular, or in any case if desired, the groove 28 may be omitted.

The rod extension 22 fits snugly and slidably within a tubular guide member 34, which forms an integral part of the frame of the butt portion of the fishing rod which lincludes the base ofthe reel seat and the core of the handle. The member 34 is encircled by and mounts the front grip I6 of the rod, and terminates in an enlarged transverse flange 36 providing a shoulder against which the rear end of grip I6 abuts. A reduced thickness portion 38 is formed in member 34 intermediate its ends, and the outer end portion 43 of'nember 34 projects beyond the front edge of grip I6 and is externally screw threaded. A metal reinforcing sleeve 42 fits within an en'e larged diameter portion of the bore at the front of grip I6 and provides an annular socket in which an internally screw threaded locking nut or sleeve 44 is rotatably received. The front portion of nut 44 has an inturned flange 46 which seats b tween the rear edge 20 of sleeve I8 and the rib 26 on extension 22. The nut 44 serves as the means for adjusting the relative longitudinal positions of the members 22 and 34.

The reel seat I4 comprises an elongated rigid metal bar or plate having a substantially flat upper surface and is off-set relative to member 34 so that extension 22 may be positioned above the front end portion thereof as shown in Fig. 2. The reel seat has longitudinal ribs 48 extending along its sides and projecting above the upper surface. Ribs 48 are spaced apart a distance substanr tially equal to or slightly greater thanv the width of the base plate 50 of a fishing reel 52, whereby said base plate is confined against lateral displacement. The reel seat terminates in a transversely enlarged and upwardly projecting flange 54 similar to flange 36 of member 34 and spaced longitudinally therefrom a distance greater than the length of the reel base plate 50. Flange 5 4 has a notch 56 formed therein at the level of the upper surface of the reel seat to receive and anchor one end of the reel base plate 50. If desired, the reel seat may have a downwardly projecting finger-engaging hook 58 formed adjacent to its rear end as shown.

A handle shank 60 is formed integrally with and projects rearwardly from the flange 54 of the reel seat. The usual tubular hand grip l2, formed of cork or other suitable material, encircles said .shank with its front .edge bearing againstilangel A handle butt 62,'here shown as formed of rubber, although any other material found suitable may be used, is suitably secured to the handle. A screw 64 is here shown threaded in a bore in the end of shank 60, said screw hav.- ing a head 66 imbedded in said butt 62.

In the manufacture of the rod, the rod -portion l0 with its sleeve I8 and extension 22 and the nut 44 is formed as one assembly or unit, and the handle l2, reel seat I4 and hand grip `H5 are formed as a second assembly or unit. The prefabricated units are assembled by tting the eX- tension 22 of the rst unit into the tube 34 of the second unit; andthe Aparts are held against lseparation. and in the desired relative longitudinaladjustment'by the engagement-of nut 44 with the .threaded portion 40 vof tube S4. Where extension 22 isprovded with a longitudinalgroove 2,8, a transverse pin 68 mounted by tube 34 projects intosaid groove to hold the -two units against relative rotation.

'To mount reel 52 rupon ithe'rod, thenut '44 is first adjusted to retract -the rear end of rod extension 22 from the reel-seat, i. e. into 'tube 34. 1The ibaseplate .il! of the `l`ree1-can then be applied" to vthe `reel seat `between ithe .ribs '48 with itsrear endtting in lnotch f56. Nut44 .can fthen be rotated lto Aproject 'the extension A22'rearwardly outwardly beyond fflange E36 to :a .position 'overlying Yand #engaging .the kfront .end `of reel ibase plate -5`0 and pressing lor vpushing `said plate 50 firmly :and solidly in notch y5 6. 'It will tbe :noted that vthe surface `t2 .of the extension 212 'engages thelreel fbase 4'and loverliesand presses downward.- :ly therea'gainst Vto solidly lock the reel Vbase vagainstdisplacement by a :wedge action, `as best seen `in Figs. 1 :and `Tit will,be1observed that ythis interlocking -engagementof the Aparts is .suf-

icient `to .hold the rod against rotation relative -.to .the reel seat, so `that groovefZ .and pin 68 .may .be vdispensedwith if desired. In .this connection, and :assuming said groove Iand Ipinare omitted, if the rod jshouldrotate relative to the ,reel seat While the reel is removed from the reel seat, the

, :parts will be returned to vlproper rotative vrelation automatically the `:next time the reel 'is mounted on the reel seat by virtue-of the 'selfrighting action and .abutment of 'inclined .face

32 against :the reel base .5.0. 'ZIhis will insure properalignment .of the line guides upon the rod with respect to the reel position at all times in using the device.

The reel 52 is disconnected Vfrom the rod by simply backing the nut 44 on Athreads 4l! until the fitting 122 is retracted into thejguide 34, so that .the reel .base 150 is lfree for vremoval from the reel seat. If use of the lrod is ended-the nut 44 may be backed off of the threads 40 4completely, thereby permitting the handle unit to be ,pulled free from the rod unit for compact storageof the rod. This renders the device very .simple to manipulate and avoids the ,necessity of separate operating means for 'the kreel `seat I and for the `.rod joint as r` has v.heretofore Abeen conventional.

The vinvention resides 'in 'the combination and arrangements of A,thiparts as above described, and includes other specific 'embodiments within the spirit of the invention as described and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fishing rod comprising an elongated flexible rod unit including a iitting at one end thereof, a handle unit including a reel seat and a rod socket, said .fitting being longitudinally slidable in said socketwith its inner fend adapted Ato overlie said reel seat to clamp the base plate of a iish- .ing reel upon said reel seat, and means for locking said units together in reel-plate clamping longitudinal adjustment.

2. A fishing rod comprising an elongated flex- 'ible :iroidun'it including an extension at one end thereof., ...a handle unit including an off-set reel seat, said extension being slidable longitudinally infsa'id handle Aunit .in a path adjacent to said vreel .seat and to a position overlying said vreel sea't, and threaded means for advancing and retracting said rod unit relative to said handle unit and said reel seat whereby a 'reel -On :said reel seat is adapted to be locked or released respectively by said `rod unit.

3. A-shingirod comprising an elongate flexible Arod-'unit vincluding a eXible Vrod andan extension carried-by one end -of said rod, a 'handle unit including an off-set vreel seat, said extension being slidable longitudinallyin said handle unit in -a path adjacent vto said reel-seat, and 'threaded means Ion said 'rod -for :advancing and retracting :said rodun'it relative ito saidhandle unit, the vrear end portion of said 'extension ,having ,a longitudinally inclined face adapted to overlie said 'reel seat -tol clamp Aone end rof the base Vof a 'reel vvupon said seat.

said reel seat being laterally offset from and positioned lbetween said handle and guide, nan elongated flexible rod unit including va ilexible rod and van extension mounted yon Aone end of said'rod 'andlslidable longitudinally 'in said guide and adapted to belfno'jected adjacent to land in overlying relation'to lsaid kreel seat, ,and 'a threaded member rotatably mounted on isaid extension 'and fitting on 'said guide 'for Ashifting said rod unit in said guide.

5. In a fishing rod, 'a handle, lapreel seat 'offset from Ysaid handle 4and adapted lto support a reel base, 'alguide Asocket olf-set from and projectin g forwardly fromsaid reel seat, yan nelongated flexible Trod, -an 'extension vmounted on lone 'end 'ofsaid rod'and Vslidable.insaidguide ysocket and vadapted to overlie said reel .seat to lock 'a reel base'thereon, andmeans for locking'said rod extension in reel-baselocking longitudinaladjustment in lsaid guide socket.

6. In a'shing irod, a handlefa reel Vseat 'offset from said handle, ,a guide socket ofi-set from and projecting forwardly `from Asaid reel sea-t, an elongated ilexiblerod, lanextensionfixed on one 'end vof said rod and slidable in said guide socket, 'said reel seat including vlongitudinal ribs at its sides and anotch at 4its rear end to dene a reel v`base locating portion, the 'end of 'said extension being adapted 'to 'overlie said 'locating portion and clamp a reel base thereon, and means for `locking said rod extensionin reel- 'base clamping longitudinal adjustment lin said guide socket.

7, Ina fishing rod, a handle, a 'reel seat offset vfrom said handle, a "guide socket off-set from yand projecting forwardly from Asaid reel seat, 'an elongated ilexible rod, an extension xedly secured to-one end of said rod and slidable in 'said guide socketrsaid reel seat including a notch at itsrrear end adapted to receive one end of the base plate of a fishing reel, the rear end portion of said rod extension being adapted to overlie and pressV downwardly and rearwardly on the front of said base plate to clamp the same to said reel seat, and means for locking said rod extension in reel-base clamping longitudinal adjustment in said guide socket.

8. In a iishing rod, a handle, a reel seat oifset from said handle, a guide socket olf-set Afrom and projecting forwardly from said reel seat, an elongatedflexible rod, a fitting carried by and projecting from one end of said rod and slidable in said guide socket, said reel seat including a notch'at its rear end adapted to receive one end of the base plate of a fishing reel, the rear end portion of said rod fitting having a longitudinally inclined surface facing said reel seat and adapted to engage the front of said base plate, and means for locking said rod fitting in reel-base clamping longitudinal adjustment in said guide socket.

, 9. In a iishing rod, a handle, a reel seat, a guide, said handle, reel `seat and guide constituting a unit in which said reel seat is off-set laterally, an elongated iiexible rod, a rigid member secured to and projecting from one end of said rod and slidable longitudinally in said guide toyproject from the rear thereof and overlie said reel seat to `lck"a reel thereon, and a`screw threaded member for advancing and retracting said rigid member.

10. In a fishing rod, a handle, a reel seat, a

guide, said handle, reel seat and guide constituting a unit in which said reel seat is off-set laterally, an elongated flexible rod, a rigid member secured to and projecting from one end of said rod and slidable longitudinally in said guide to project from the rear thereof and overlie said reel seat to lock a reel thereon, said guide having a screw threaded portion and said rigid member having a circumferential groove, and a nut adjustable on said threaded guide portion and rotatably interlocked with said rigid member at said groove.

1l. In a shing rod, a unit including a pair of longitudinally spaced hand grip portions and an intermediate laterally off-set reel seat adapted to support a fishing reel, one of said grip porf tions having a central bore therein, a exible rod, an extension mounted on one end of said rod and slidable longitudinally in said bore and adapted to project rearwardly in reel-clamping relation to said reel seat, and means for locking said rod and extension in reel-clamping longitudinal adjustment on said unit.

12. In a fishing rod, a unit comprising longitudinally spaced handle and tubular guide portions and an intermediate laterally off-set reel seat, said guide portion being externally screw threaded at its outer end, a hand grip fitting around said guide portion and having a large diameter bore portion defining an annular groove laround the screw threads of saidguide portion, a rod fitting snugly and slidably in said guide portion and adapted to project rearwardly therefrom, and a nut rotatably anchored to said rod and projecting into said groove for engagement with said threaded guide portion.

13. In combination with a shing rod, a handle having a reel seat and provided with a vsocket adapted to receive the end of the rod, a plunger part coupled with the rod and shiftable through the socket, and means movable over the rod and 6. adjustably engaged within "the Lsocket operable to urge the plunger part to project beyond Vthe' socket and overhang the reel seat and-lock a reel base thereon. 1

- 14. A fishing rod assembly comprising a handle having a reel seat and provided with a socket portion extending forwardly therefrom, a rod having an end portion receivable within the socket, and means coupled with the rod and adjustably threaded into the socket, said means adapted to urge the 'end portion of the rod to project rearwardly from the socket over the reel seat to engage a reel base mounted upon the seat to releasably secure the reel thereto.

p 15. A fishing rod assmbly comprising-ahandle having a reel seat and provided with a socket portion extending forwardly therefrom, a Vrod having an end portion receivable' within the socket, and means coupled-with the rod and adjustably threaded into the socket, said means adapted to urge the end portion of the rod to project rearwardly from the socket over the reel seat to engage awreel base mounted upon the seat to releasably secure the reel thereto, said end portion of the rod having its rear end provided with a beveled face adapted to engage a reelbase disposed at different heights above the reel seat of the handle.

16. A fishing rod assembly comprising, in combination, a handle having a reel seat and provided With a socket'portion projecting forwardly from the seat and adapted to receive one end of the rod, a rod having one end received within the socket, a reel having a base mounted upon the reel seat, means movably encircling the rod and adjustably threaded in the outer end of the socket to hold the rod within the socket. and a part responsive to saidfmeans adapted to engage the reel base to maintain the reel upon the seat.

1'7. In combination, a fishing rod, a handle for the rod, said handle having a reel seat, and a reel having a base plate receivable upon said reel seat, said handle Ahaving a socket passageway extending from the reel seat through a por- `3 tion of the handle forwardly of the reel seat, said rod having a rear end portion rotatable and slidable through the socket passageway to project there beyond and overhang the reel seat, and said base plate and rear end portion of the rod shaped to cooperatively engage each other to rotatably position the rod within the socket passageway when the rear end of the rod is cooperatively engaged with the reel base plate.

18. In combination, a fishing rod, a handle, said handle provided intermediate its ends with a depressed reel seat and provided with a rod receiving socket extending forwardly from the reel seat through the handle, a plate mounted upon the reel seat, said plate having an upwardly convex face, said rod having a rear end portion receivable within the socket and rotatable therein, said rearjend portion provided With an upwardly concave recess adapted to engage the upwardly convex face of the plate to position the rod rotatably-within the socket and definitely with respect to the plate and means coupled with the handle and with the rod operable to hold the rod within the socket with the recess in the end of the rod engaged with the convex face of the plate.

19. In combination; a fishing rod, a handle having a reel seat and provided with a socket adapted to receive the end of the rod, a plunger part coupled with the rod and receivable through the socket, and means slidable over the rod and adjustabiy :engaged :within .the .socket and yoperable to urge said plunger 4 part to project beyond 'the socket Aand .overhang the reel ,seat to lock a reel base thereon, said reel base and plunger part `each provided with .interengaging parts adapted to :cooperatively engage each other to rotatably posit-ion 'the rod `With .respect to the reel .base when the plunger part is urged against the reel base.

.20. Afishing rodassembly comprising a handle having a reel seat and provided with a socket portion extending forwardly therefrom, a rod having an end portion receivable within Athe socket, means coupled. with the rod 4and adjustably threaded into vthe socket, said means adapted to urge the end portion of the rod to project rearwardly from the socket .over the reel seat to engage a reel :base mounted upon the :seat to rele'asably .secure :the lreel thereto, and -a reel having 'albase adapted to rest upon said reelsea, said reel ibase 'and end portion of the rod provided xwith .interlocking parts adapted to .cooperatively engage eachother to position the .rod rotatably with respect -to the reel when the end portionof the rod is urged into engagement with the base.v

`421.11m combination, a .shing rod, a handle, said handle provided intermediate its ends with a depressed reel seat `having an undercutat one end, said handle having a rod receiving socket 30 extending forwardly from the opposite end of 8 the reel seat, Vthe rear end portion .of the rod being receivable rotatably and :slidably within said socket, :said rear ,end portion `of the rod exhibiting an arcuate vbeveled recess on its rein' end, and a .nut slidable over .the .rod and threadedly engageable Within the socket and having a part adapted Vto abuta cooperating part .on the rod Ato urge the rear end of the rod beyond the socket to overhang the ,reel seat, .and areel hav-I ing a .base adapted to rest upon the reel seat of the handle, said base being upwardly .convex to be cooperatively engaged within the arcuate recess in the end of the .rod to .lock the 'reel to the handle and to line up the rod with the reel.

RAYMOND .I-I. 'BEYER YREFERENSCES .CITED The following references are of record .in 'the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 'Date 1,843,714 Fuller Feb. 2, 1932 1,909,529 Gephart May 1'6, 1933 1,920,966 Carlson Aug. 8, 1933 2,230,229 Benson Feb. 4, '.1941

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 484,628 Great Britain May 9, 1938 

